What the Iowa Youth Survey Asks Teens

October 4, 2013 By Shane Vander Hart

Following up on a recent article discussing student data collected by the Iowa Department of Education, Caffeinated Thoughts has obtained a copy of the questionnaire that is given to 6th, 8th, and 11th graders in Iowa every two years. The Iowa Youth Survey is conducted by the Iowa Department of Public Health’s Division of Behavioral Health in collaboration with the Iowa Department of Education, the Governor’s Office of Drug Control Policy, the Iowa Department of Human Rights’ Criminal and Juvenile Justice Planning and Statistical Analysis Center, and the Iowa Department of Human Services.

Students are asked questions about their attitudes and experiences regarding alcohol and other drug use and violence, and their perceptions of their peer, family, school, and neighborhood/community environments.

Here is a copy of the questionnaire that students take online using Survey Monkey.

Students completing the survey do not have to include their student ID number or name, but they do include their building, school district and county code. Students are given the freedom to not answer questions. Caffeinated Thoughts has inquired about a parents ability to opt their children out of taking the Iowa Youth Survey and parental notification, but as of publication had not heard back. Results dating back to 1999 can be found at www.iowayouthsurvey.iowa.gov.

Shane Vander Hart is the founder and editor-in-chief of Caffeinated Thoughts. He is also the President of 4:15 Communications, LLC, a social media & communications consulting/management firm. Prior to this Shane spent 20 years in youth ministry serving in church, parachurch, and school settings. He has also served as an interim pastor and is a sought after speaker and pulpit fill-in. Shane has been married to his wife Cheryl since 1993 and they have three kids. Shane and his family reside near Des Moines, IA.

About Shane Vander Hart

Shane Vander Hart is the founder and editor-in-chief of Caffeinated Thoughts. He is also the President of 4:15 Communications, LLC, a social media & communications consulting/management firm. Prior to this Shane spent 20 years in youth ministry serving in church, parachurch, and school settings. He has also served as an interim pastor and is a sought after speaker and pulpit fill-in. Shane has been married to his wife Cheryl since 1993 and they have three kids. Shane and his family reside near Des Moines, IA.

Comments

Just showed this to my older son. He was in 11th grade for 2012 and he didn’t take this. There was a bullying survey with a “bubble fill-in sheet,” but neither of us know its origin and shorter than 18 pages.